Chapter Fifty-Eight
58
"You're doing much better with your physical therapy, Ms. Satsuna~" Nurse Fontaine smiled as she helped Norika with motion and weight shifting, "I think you might just be ready to be released now and let nature heal the rest."
"You think so?" asked Norika, "That's a releif..." she smiled as she rubbed at the markings on her wrists. They still hurt a bit.. but they weren't as raw anymore.
"Say...let's test it, shall we?" asked the nurse, "Would you mind assisting me today?"
"Sure...I don't mind lending a hand."
"Thank you dear." said Nurse Fontaine, "If you could, please go check on Atticus Rhodes's pulse for me would you?" she asked, "I just want to make her he is still in stable condition.
Norika twitched a bit. She felt uneasy being near him.
Relax, Norika...
She thought to herself.
Remember the darkness in him is gone now...he can't hurt you anymore...
"Sure." she said softly with a weak smile. As the nurse left to gather more needed medical supplies, Norika stood by the brunette's bed side.
His beathing is gentle...
She thought to himself.
So he doesn't seem to be struggling internally or anything...
She gently tooh his hand in hers and placed two fingers over his pulse, closing her eyes so she could time his heartbeat.
Everything seemed normal...until suddenly his hand shifted and he seemed to be the one holding hers this time. She gasped and turned toward him, startled, and found his dark eyes were now open and looked upon her dreamily...as though having just woke up from a peaceful sleep.
"...Hey..." he spoke up softly, "...Do I...know you?"
She gasped.
"Uhh...Nope...I'm just checking your pulse for the nurse, so-"
"...Yes, I do." he said softly, "Your name..." he blinked, "It's...Norika Satsuna, isn't it?"
She gasped.
Wait...he knows my name?
She thought to herself.
"I remember you." he said softly, "I remember you from Duel Prep school...he smiled,"Yeah...little Connar's friend." he blinked.
"You...know Connar?" she asked.
"Well...yeah...kinda." he said softly, "A lot of things are hazy...but I remember her." he said softly and chuckled, "Zane was so protective of her..." he laughed, "He had never actually babysat a little girl before...she was wild."
"No way...Connar was?" Norika snickered, "Really?"
"Heh...yeah..." he blinked, "...How is she, now?"
"Well..." Norika didn't know how to answer. He turned his head slowly to look at her when he noticed the markings on her wrists.
"Hey...what happened to your hands?" he asked, "Did someone do that to you?"
She twitched.
Does he really not remember?
She asked herself. He looked upon them with confusion and distraught.
"Did I...do that to you?" he asked.
Norika twitched.
What should I do?
she wondered.
What should I say? Do I tell him the truth?
His eyes narrowed sadly to her silence, taking that as his answer.
"I'm sorry..." he said softly, "For everything I did to you...and have done to others I...am so...sorry..."
"Huh? H-Hey..." Norika blinked, "D-Don't beat yourself up...you weren't you-" she gasped as she suddenly felt herself pulled forward. Not roughly...just sudden...and yet gentle, as he held her hand to his lips, and placed a gentle kiss upon her bruises...leaving her completely flushed and silent.
"Hey...Norika..." he called to her, "Could you lean in for a minute?" he said softly, "I need you to get a message to my sister, incase I'm not awake when she gets back."
XXXXX
The group, now down a second member, stood outside in the darkness beneath the looming shadow of the palace in which Camula resided. Connar and Syrus clung close together, sharing each other's sadness and tears with heavy sobs of mourning for their fallen friend, babysitter, and brother. Jaden stood weakly on his feet being held by the support of Chumley while he glared into the night ahead of them.
"That's it...enough is enough!" he huffed,"YOU HEAR ME CAMULA!?"
"Jaden..." Alexis watched, feeling pained as her weakened friend stood trembling at the knees from trying to maintain his own balance.
"I'm through with you messing with my friends! What you did to Crowler...to Zane...!"
Syrus sobbed softly in Connar's arms as she squeezed her old friend tightly, trying to keep her own emotions in check. For she knew her own sadness from the Fallen Zane was only a fraction in comparison to what Syrus was carrying. Besides, she had Chazz to back her up with a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"It stops here!" he snapped,"And I'm gonna be the one to stop it!" he heaved heavy breaths as he spoke,"I'm coming, Camula..." Jaden growled,"So Get Your Game On!"
Jaden...
Connar thought to herself as she watched him. Anger having reached its limit in her usually cheery brown haired friend.
XXXXX
The gates were shifting.
Even Connar could feel it as she gripped at her chest while Alexis helped Jaden back to the infirmary, and the remaining key keepers tried to ponder a strategy. Syrus and Chumley pushed to make their head master duel,though he was none too thrilled about the idea.
"Hmph...clearly this is a job for Chazz Princeton, anyway." Chazz huffed.
"If you mean feeding your dorm cat, then sure." Bastion scoffed.
Chazz let out a low growl as Connar rose to her feet, allowing the breeze to blow around her, feathering her hair around her determined face.
"Then let me face her." Connar stated.
"Hell no!" Chazz snapped,"Absolutely not!"
"And why not!?" she huffed,"I'm just as much a duelist as you are!"
"That may be!" stated Chazz,"But do you think I haven't been paying attention!?"
"What do you mean?" Connar blinked.
"She called you "Spirit Caller" Connar." Chazz said to her,"More than once. Now I don't know exactly what that means, but it's clear that these Shadow Riders do." he blinked and Connar winced.
He's right...
She thought to herself.
I don't know what it means either, but...
"Until we figure out what that means for you, we're better off not risking anything else that these freaks may be after, you got that!?"
"Aside from that..." said Bastion,"You're not a key keeper, Connar...So even if you did challenge them they might not face you." Bastion blinked, "At that point we may as well be handing them cake on a silver platter."
Connar huffed in frustration and kicked the dirt with a pout.
"Never fear! The Calvalary's here!" said Norika, as she rode in on a motor boat with Alexis.
"Nori!" Connar blinked.
"Who needs Banner, when we've got Jaden!" Alexis grinned as the brunette popped himself up from a pile of tarps.
"What's up?" he grinned.
"For the last time, you can't, Jaden!" Syrus huffed.
"Yeah...you're still hurt, you slacker." Chazz smirked and Bastion nodded in agreement.
"Maybe so..." said Alexis,"But listen!" she sighed gesturing back to the red head who had decided to tag along.
"Back at the Hospital... while I have been going through my ohysical therapy, I was also helping Nurse Fontaine with the care for Atticus." she stated.
"Thanks to Norika's assisted medical treatments...my brother had finally opened his eyes." said Alexis.
"Uh...y-yeah..." the red head blushed, "And then...he started saying weird things that didn't make sense to me." blinked Norika.
"Like what?" asked Connar.
"He said we can't defeat Camula the same way as others..." Alexis blinked,"Because apparently she has a Shadow Charm that allows her to steal souls...but we can stop her with another charm." she stated as she pointed to the necklaces around Jaden's neck.
The other half of Jaden's medalion!
Connar gasped. She had noticed the piece of jewlery before...but it was broken then. But now...
You mean Atticus had it?
"If we can stop Camula's ability to steal souls, then we can face her with everything we have without any fear!" said Alexis.
"Hmph...as if I'm even scared..." Chazz muttered. Though the way he was still holding onto Connar's hand left room for doubt.
"So we fight fire with fire!" stated Alexis.
"Hm..."Connar nodded with a hopeful smile.
Thanks a lot, Atticus!
With a new found determination they marched back into the battle field toward Camula's lair. This time aiming for it to be the last round trip.
"All right Camula, let's go!" Jaden snapped as he took his stand in ready,"I'm here for my friend's souls...and I'm not leaving without'em!"
Bats screeched all around as her ominous stance loomed above, ready and waiting.
"Correction, my dear..." she chuckled,"You're not leaving here ever again!"
Jaden stood ready and waiting, and he meant business as he siezed the first move with an opening number of fusion summoning Elemental Hero Tempest.
"Looks like Jaden wants to end this quickly." said Bastion.
And with one of his most powerful Heroes out on the first turn, it was looking quite possible that he might.
"I wouldn't count Camula out just yet." said Chazz.
Especially not with cards like Illusion gate...
Connar sighed.
"Wow, Chazz...real sucker of a ladies man, aren't you?" Norika muttered.
"Excuse me!?" the ash haired male huffed.
Jaden then ended the turn with a face down and passed the baton to Camula.
"Well dear, if you're in such a hurry to lose then who am I to stop you!?" Camula smirked as she drew and the face she made after spelled eternal doom already.
"She got it..." Connar whispered softly.
"Got what?" Norika blinked.
"I activate Illusion Gate!" said Camula as she put her spell into play.
"...It had to be that one..." Jaden muttered.
"I'm sure you remember how it works." she chuckled as the gate rose up behind her."First all monsters on the field are destroyed...then I get to summon any monster you have used in this duel...and the only price I need to pay...is a soul to the Shadow beasts should I lose." she smirked,"Now who shall be the lucky one..." her eyes darted around as the massive doors opened behind her,"Hmmm...how about The Spirit Caller!"
"What!?" Norika gasped, "Spirit Caller!? What is she talking about?" The red head questioned as she followed the woman's gaze straight to the pinkette, "You mean Connar!?"
The vampiress smirked, "Yesss she bears a soul that could satiate the shadows for Mellenia~! HAHAHA!"
"Over My Dead Body!" Chazz snapped as he instantly stepped infront of the girl to protect her.
Princeton...!?
"Hmmm...careful what you wish for deary..." Camula chuckled,"You just might get it!" She shrugged,"You make the decision so hard...perhaps...I should just offer them all!"
"What!? All of them!?" Jaden gasped.
"But of course~" she chuckled,"You should never underestimate the power of the Shadows...for with my necklace I can do anything~!"
But just as the magic began to swirl around them, the room suddenly met with a swirl of light and darkness, causing a confusion amongst the crowd. For the Brief instant, Kaibaman flashed into the scene and enveloped his arms around Connar.
Wait-
Norika gasped.
Isn't that a Duel Monster!?
She blinked.
But since when are they real!? And since when could I see them!?
Something similar to this had happened before...back when they were at the Abandoned Dorm. The original spirits that Connar was chasing were invisible to Norika, that is until she got up close and personal woth the pinkette...just like this.
"What the!? Who's that!" Chazz asked as he tried to look behind him but the odd acting weather made it hard to get a good peek.
"Uh Oh That's Kaibaman!" Ojama said as he popped out from under Chazz's jacket.
"Who!?" Chazz blinked.
"May there be no mercy on he who endagers his lady, Connar!...He's real mad!" he gulped.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Chazz called.
"Eew what the hell was that!?" Norika shrieked, "A bug!?"
"Wait..." Chazz blinked, "You mean you see him NOW!?" he asked, "Since when!?"
"I can't say..." said Norika, "But it seems sometimes I can see weird ass things whenever I'm close enough to Connar-" she and gasped as another presence took a stand between them with an aura enough to freeze time itself, were it a possibility.
"Oh no..." Norika gulped, "I-it's HIM again..."
"Say what!?" CHazz blinked, "It's who again!?"
"That...boy..." Norika trembled, "From the Abandoned dorm...!"
"What!?" Chazz blinked.
Connar opened her eyes with a gasp as she took in the presenc of her Spirit Partner, and the all too familiar face of another.
"Tis you!?" Kaibaman gasped.
"But...what are you doing here!?" asked Connar.
The blue haired boy glanced back with a heated Magenta gaze and a smirk as he stood infront of them and swiped his arms to either side of him. The swirling winds of light and dark instantly dissipated just enough to clear the scene before them.
"Consider this an 'owe me one' Connar!" the spirit boy laughed and instantly he, and Kaibaman's spirit were gone into the surrounding light and dark, as Connar gasped. Chazz too, couldn't believe what he saw, and even Norika was in shock, but somehow it didn't feel like they were the only power that helped.
"What happened!?" Chazz asked.
"Look at Jaden's necklace!" Connar stated,"It's merged back into one!"
"Jaden's Shadow Charm canceled out the power of her necklace!" Alexis stated.
"Just in time too!" said Bastion,"I thought we were all done for!"
Not only that...
Chazz blinked as he glanced back at Connar where the two presences once stood. Chills running through him as the flash of a blue haire boy came into play. A Presence that even Norika could see...and one intimadting enough to even make a fiery tempred girl like her, shake in her Slifer red boots.
He looked just like Connar...
He thought to himself.
And I have a feeling that Shadow charm may have also negated whatever that kid was packing...!
He shivered in relief and held his gaze on Connar whose eye color had clearly changed a few shades darker and she struggled to keep her breath.
"Woah...check out her eyes..." said Norika, :...Is she okay?"
Connar...
Chazz blinked.
...Just what kind of company are you keeping?
Camula screamed as all the powers of the shadows were defelcted back at her and the door behind her slammed shut, while she too struggled to catch her breath.
"...Curse you...Spirit Caller..." she growled.
"HA!" Jaden laughed,"Looks like if you still wanna use Illusion Gate you're gonna have to do some soul searching without my friends!" he grinned,"So how about you put that broken card away and play this game straight!"
"Not likely..." she scoffed,"Illusion Gate! Open your door once more and use MY soul as a sacrifice!" She hissed. And it looked like the gate complied. She now had Tempest on her side, along side the familiar Zombie werewolf, pushing them forward in a direct attack toward Jaden.
After taking a big hit and only 1200 life points left, it almost looked like Camula had a third victim until Jaden's Trap returned his monster to him.
"What!?" Camula gasped and let out a low growl.
"All right, looks like it's time to teach that Zombie werewolf of yours how to play dead and STAY dead!" Jaden stated on his turn as Tempest blew the pup away. Much to Camula's amusement.
"Remember when you destroy you Zombie Werewolf, another comes from my deck 500 points stronger!"
"Hmph!" Jaden huffed,"Then let's see if this face down will tame him."
It wasn't long until they got to meet with her Vampire Genesis once again.
"Check it out Connar, it's your ex boyfriend."
"Can it, Princeton!" she huffed as he watched her closely.
"Man...just what the hell did I miss last time around?" asked Norika.
She seems normal now...but...
The image of that blue haired boy with Connar's likeness still worried her. And judging by the look of confused expression on Chazz's face...she wasn't the only one it affected.
Camula's Giant Trunad took away Jaden's hope of protecting his monster. Connar growled. Something didn't seem right. Camula seemed to know far too much about each opponent she faced.
She had to be cheating.
Which was clarified as she revealed her bats to be little spies for them all.
Tempest couldn't withstand Genesis's attack, and now Jaden had nothing left to defend him.
"So much for Tempest." Chazz muttered,"Now Jaden's out there like a sitting duck!"
As the last strike landed it didn't look good for Jaden's victory...though hearing his laughter probed curiosity.
"Why are you still standing!?" Camula huffed,"You should have nothing left!"
"Guess again!" Jaden beamed.
"But how!?"
"Insurance is how!" he laughed as he held up his once face down trap,"By sending this card to my hand, Its ability got triggered, granting me 500 life points just in time!"
"That means Jaden has 300 life points left!" Norika beamed.
"How fortunate..."Camula grumbled,"Though it only postpones the inevitable."
"Jaden's hanging on...but not by much." Alexis sighed.
"Got that right." Chazz huffed,"Even with that Shadow Charm he's just not at the top of his game right now..." he sighed,"We may as well just hand over out Spirit Keys."
"Don't talk like that!" Connar huffed as her breathing finally seemed to stabelize.
"Connar's right." said Bastion,"There's always hope but with Camula's Genesis on the field and her spell card that goes with it...there's not much of it."
It came down to this last turn. Jaden had to raise the stakes if he wanted to win, so that's just what he did. Pot Of Greed granted him just what he needed which allowed his Shining Flare Wingman to light up the field. A Monster new to everyone's eyes, including Camula's, packing a new ability to boot with a power boost per hero Jaden had in the grave. On top of that, just like Flame Wingman, a material used to summon this beast, Camula got struck with the attack points of the Vampire Genesis he destroyed, bringing down her defeat.
"That's game!" Jaden beamed. And that wasn't the end of it either. The gates rose taking with them Camula's betted soul. In her place, her Shadow Charm fell...as well as Zane's doll, which returned to be his living, breathing body once again, whose eyes slowly blinked back into the conscious world.
"IT'S ZANE!" Connar and Syrus beamed together and ran to either side of him, throwing their arms around him tightly as they cried. Blinking in confusion the Obelisk student smiled and planted an arm around each one, relieved to see them alive and well together as they helped him to his feet once again.
"Thank goodness..." Jaden sighed in relief. But peace didn't last long between them as an unatural rumbling began shaking their world around them.
"Jaden! The Castle is falling apart!" Alexis called out.
"Let's go!" Said Bastion as they all rushed to their feet to get out of the place before it fell upon them, watching once they made it safely to the shore once again, as the rest of the palace fell to the bottom of the lake.
It was a beautiful sunrise as they all stood together. Crowler and Zane back to their normal selves, as Chazz bickered with the teacher who had a few things to say about his pockets while Zane stood hugging his younger brother and the pink haired girl who shared their sentiment, happy to be home once again.
"At last that nightmare is over..." Alexis said softly as she stood next to Jaden.
"At least this one is." Jaden said softly,"After all...Camula was only the second of the Shadow Riders..." he blinked,"And that means more will come soon enough."
To Be Continued